Automatic spinning system

ABSTRACT

An automatic process-control system for carrying out a spinning operation where optimum parameters are computed by a computer in accordance with a desired accumulative production amount. The spinning operation is carried out in accordance with the parameters and actual data generated in each process is applied to the control computer. The control computer compares the difference between the actual accumulative amount of production with a desired one. When the difference between actual amount of production and a desired amount of production falls outside of an allowable range, the parameters as well as the driving condition of the process are automatically revised by the control computer.

United States Patent Tooka 1 Nov. 25, 1975 I5 AUTOMATIC SPINNING SYSTEM 3,703,725 ll/l972 Gomersall et al H 444/1 (75} inventor: Takuzo Tooka, Aichi, Japan OTHER PUBLICATIONS [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Shapiro, 5., Adaptive Control in Production Plan Jidoshokki s i aku h Japan ning, IBM Systems Journal, Vol, 4, No. 3, 1965, pp, W 250-255. [22] riled: Oct. 19, 1973 [2i] Appl. No.: 408,009 Primary ExaminerRaulfe B. Zache Related UIS Applicafion Data Allorney. Agent, or Firm Allan Ratner [63] fgpltinuation-m-part of Seri No. l46,659, May 25, ABSTRACT An automatic process-control system for carrying out [30] Foreign Application Priority Data a spinning operation where optimum parameters are May 26, i970 Japan 45-44703 QOmPUtBd y a Computer in awordance with 8 desired May 26, i970 Japan is 4544704 accumulalive Production am0unl- The Spinning p May 26 [970 Japan N 4544705 tion is carried out in accordance with the parameters May 26 1970 Japan N 4544706 and actual data generated in each process is applied to the control computerv The control computer com- [52 CL u 340 2 235/1511; 444/1 pares the difference between the actual accumulative [5i] Int z G05B 15/02; G06F 9/12 amount of production with a desired one. When the [53 ld f Search 444/]; 340/1725; difference between actual amount of production and :1 235/151 desired amount of production falls outside of an allow able range, the parameters as well as the driving con- [5 References cu dition of the process are automatically revised by the UNITED STATES PATENTS comm COmPmer- 3,371,318 2/1968 Claiborne et al, 444/1 x 2 m ll D a ing Figures CHEESE coNvEYER i i iQENSPORTATlON CONTROLLED CANS i: i 1 i I l iDRIVING EXCHANGE I i SPEED) L i M0 MO I L 7 ,4 ,5 ,6 7 --1 1 PNEU' CANS p 4 i i OPENING MATlC CARDING FRST SECOND fREsERvE 5 END icHEESE l PROCESS COM -PROCESS- DRAWING -DRAW|NG 1CANS t. I VEYER PRocEss PROCESS :TRANS E VEYOR LEQ IE PM PROCESS L -.i I l 1 F STORAGE b13535??? artiste an L i PE YMIT c I Efi ES SMULMON i eooucrioNi m CONTROL COMPUTOR U.S. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 I I l IZI START PULS? Y FUL CANS.

MP CANS.

FUL CANS.

MP CANS.

Y FUL CANS? XCH END.

EMP CANS.

UL CANS.

Fig. 2A

CANS EX FRESH CANS OUT RROC IN RROC IN RROC fl I0 OUT RROC EXCI-I END OUT PROC IN PROC Sheet 3 of9 CANS EX RECU L NEW SET US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet50f9 3,922,642

44 CEAR BOX 4E) PULSE VARIABLE- PILOT GENERATOR sREED T R DEVICE MO 0 DEMAND CONTROL PROGRAM (DRMNG COMPUTOR SPEED lNlTiAL COMMAND US. Patent N0v.25, 1975 Sheet70f9 3,922,642

g f U f d e US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet80f9 3,922,642

Fig. 8A

PULSE DIAGRAM IN THE OPEN-END SPINNING PROCESS FRAM TIME No.1 R 0 No.2 R

L O-O I I No.IX-IIR O-0 NQIXI R O.

L O--O NoIX-HIR L o-O Fig. 8B

DIAGRAM SHOWING TRANSPORTATION SEQUENCE OF FULL PACKAGED CANS T I M E TRANSPORTA- OF CONVEYOR US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 9 of9 F/g. 8C

DIAGRAM SHOWING THE CONDITION OF TAKER|N MECHAN- ISM O0 OO O IIIIIIII o l| OOOOO RL O XRL Q wmRL (o) DESIGNATES 'RESTING AUTOMATIC SPINNING SYSTEM RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part application of our copending application Ser. No. M61559, filed on May 25. 1971,

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a central control system for carrying out spinning operation, more particularly, relates to a digital computer process-control system for carrying out spinning operation.

The most significant and fundamental developments of the technical revolution in the spinning industry, which have been produced in the last ten or fifteen years, are a continuous process which comprises an opening machine and carding machines and a drawing frame connected in order," continuous automatic spinning system such as Toyobo or Toyoda or Rieter system,38 and so-called open-end spinning frame. However, it has been realized that a highly skilled operator is required to carry out the spinning operation utilizing one of the above-mentioned modernized systems, because, high level engineering knowledge is essential to operate the above-mentioned systems without troubles. Further, the labor problem of obtaining highly skilled operators is becoming increasingly difficult in the developed countries.

According to rapid changes of fashion in developing countries, various demands on textile products are made, particularly in the field of worsted yarn or synthetic yarn, consequently, small scale production of various kinds of yarn has always been done in the worsted or synthetic yarn spinning mills. Furthermore, it is difficult to simplify the production programs for manufacturing the above-mentioned various kind of yarns in those types of mills therefore the operation effeciency of the spinning machine is restricted by low level.

The principle object of the present invention is to provide a unique central control system for carrying out the spinning operation by utilizing a computer process-control system, which comprises setting an initial process schedule or programing of the operation in accordance with a given schedule of production, programing the operation of each component process and programing workings of auxiliary devices, comparing measured production data with the above-mentioned program and reprograming the operation of each component process for correcting the operating-conditions so that the operation of each equipment is carried out under the corrected program, whereby the production in each process before the last spinning process is subjected to a balance with the consumption of roving or sliver in the spinning process, in other words, the relation between the production in the upstream process and the consumption in the successive downstream process is always maintained within an allowable range dictated by the basic production program of the spinning process so that very stable operation of every equipment can be carried out.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic control system for properly operating auxiliary devices such as an automatic yarn piecing machine, automatic doffing machine, and automatic transferring equipment for carrying bobbins or cans by utilizing computer-control system connected with the above-mentioned central control system.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic central control system for tightly managing whole activities of a manufacturing company wherein a computer is installed in a central management office, where production activity in connection with sales and storage activity is managed and is com nected to the control computer, mentioned above, by means of an on-line system.

The computerprocess system for carrying out spinning operation according to the present invention can be satisfactorily applied to various modern spinning mills wherein the above-mentioned continuous process of opening-carding-drawing machines or continuous automatic spinning system or open-end spinning frame is used. Further, if the problem in connection with the depreciation of equipments can be solved. the control system of the present invention can be applied to the traditional cotton, worsted or synthetic yarn spinning systems.

However, in all of these various spinning systems, a common principle for managing the processes can be identified and the computer-control system according to the present invention can be illustrated by an embodiment in a spinning process utilizing the continuous process of opening-carding-drawing system and the open-end spinning frame.

In the computer-control system of the present invention, the monthly (or weekly) demand of production is scheduled for every variety of yarn by the production department, in accordance with the sales schedule. storage data and market demand. The basic data, such as number of equipments, productivity of each equipment, standard operation speed of equipment etc., and machine words (software, for example Fortran words) are stored in the central computer in the management center. Then the monthly (or weekly) demand of production is used as an input to the computer. A simulation is then carried out to determine an optimum schedule for producing the monthly demand under stable conditions. Thus, the fundamental production schedule (hereinafter referred to as initial program) can be set in the computer.

In the case of big spinning companies having many branch offices, it is effective to establish with the central computer system a so-called data communication system which connects the central large computer installed in the central computer system with a plurality of small control computers which are installed in a plurality of spinning mills, whereby each small control computer receives input data in accordance with the above-mentioned program.

In the automatic control system of the spinning process according to the present invention, the controlled processes relate to accumulative production which can be adjusted by changing delivery speed of the equipment," flow route of semiprocessed goods between the two successive processes which is changed in accordance with changing the count of yarn." Auxiliary works such as transportation of product or semiprocessed product", automatic doffing operation", changing the supply of semiprocessed product of the upstream process to the successive process" are automatically controlled in accordance with an output of the control computer so that the actual accumulative production of the processes is compared with the respective initial programs so as to maintain the accumulative production within the allowable ranges. If an automatic piecing machine is utilized in the spinning, pro- 3 cess, an operation cycle of this machine is set in the initial program.

The control computer sends various instructions for controlling the controlled processes so as to carry out the production in accordance with the initial program while necessary input data are fed into the computer from the controlled processes so that the inputs are compared with those of the initial program and when non-allowable differences between them are detected, the output signals for regulating the controlled processes are generated. in any particular case where the accumulative production in the last spinning process reaches an undesirable condition. in other words, it is detected that the above-mentioned difference in connection with the accumulative production in the last spinning process falls outside the allowable range, firstly, an additional programing is carried out to find a revised program by which the final accumulative production can be attained by means of changing the delivery speed of yarn, in the above-mentioned programing, the following condition is also computated. That is, whether the upstream processes should be carried out under their revised programs or not. if the semiproduction product such as sliver or roving are sufficiently in reserve to supply the downstream processes, it is not necessary to revise their initial program, and vice versa. In the former case, it is only necessary to change the schedule for supplying sliver cans or roving bobbins to the spinning frames. And after the accumulative pro duction in the last spinning process reaches the allowable range of the initial program, the spinning condition is reverted to that of initial program. The abovementioned control schedule is computed by the control computer and is carried out in accordance with the output of the control computer. In the latter case, the revised programs of the upstream processes are also re verted to their initial programs after the accumulation production in the last spinning process reaches the allowable range of the initial program by the action of the control computer.

[fit is computed that the changing capacity of the last spinning process in connection with the accumulation production is insufficient to recover. the data, showing the degree of inadequency of the capacity of the last spinning process, is transferred to the central computer installed in the central computer system by the on-line communication system, so that reprograming of the production schedule can be carried out. Thereafter, if it is required to change the production schedules in the mills, the revised program is transferred to the control computers. As mentioned above, it is one of features of the present invention that the computer process-control of the spinning process is carried out on the basis of the accumulative production in the component processes, particularly in the last spinning processv As already mentioned, in the computer control system according to the present invention, it is essential to maintain the balance between the production of the semiproduction product in the upstream process and the consumption of the abovemtentioned product in the successive downstream process. Otherwise, it is impossible to carry out the spinning operation in the prc ferred stable condition. One can not prevent stopping of the driving of the spinning machines due to the wind ing of fibers about the draft rollers or other troubles and in our experience, the above-mentioned troubles sometimes occur. Consequently, it is required to reserve a fair number of packages of the semiproduction products between the successive separate two processes, so as to ensure the stable spinning operation. In the computer process system according to the present invention, an initial program for reserving the scmiproduction products is set when the simulation is carried out by the control computer, and in the mill processing, the control computer computes whether the estimated number of packages for reservation, or actual number of packages reserved, exceeds or is below the allowable range and the production speed of the process is automatically adjusted in accordance with the output of the control computer. And when the control computer computes that the required balance condition between the above-mentioned production and consumption is satisfied within the allowable range, the production speed of the process is automatically returned to its initial condition in accordance with the output of the control computer. in a particular case, for example, in the case of stopping the downstream process, the upstream process may be stopped in accordance with the reserve program. Therefore, the abovementioned automatic control system in connection with the reserve program is also one of features of the present invention. A further feature of the present invention is an automatic transportation system of semiproduction product which is controlled by the control computer. In the present invention, the semiproduction product of the upstream process, for example, full packaged cans or full packaged bobbins, is transferred to the downstream process in accordance with a transportation program computed by the control computer at the time of simulation. However, in the actual processing, it is necessary to avoid interference between the packages in the transportation route. The control computer functions to control the traffic of the transport apparatus. If an unallowable situation in the relation between the production and consumption in the two successive separate processes is computed by the control computer, a revised program of transportation is computed by the computer so that the transportation of the semiproduction products of the upstream process are supplied to the downstream process in accordance with the revised program. From our mill tests, in the above-mentioned revision of the transportation program, the order only of supply to the machines is changed in most cases. When the control computer computes that the abovementioned unbalanced condition has recovered, the transportation of the semiproduction product is carried out in accordance with the initial program.

A further feature of the present invention is an automatic control system for actuating various auxiliary works such as the automatic yarn piecing operation, the automatic doffing operation etc. in accordance with their own cycle set in the computer-process system. As already illustrated, the computer process system of the present invention has various noteworthy featuresv And it is possible to install a control desk in the central system by which the instantaneous condition of production, sales or storage condition etc, can be visibly read, so that very complete management control can be carried out,

Generally, different types of spinning equipments are installed in various spinning mills. However, in identical spinning mills producing the same type of yarn, the fundamental data of the machines are similar so that similar Fortran words, or other machine words can be used for simulations described above. The parameters such as rotation speed of the delivery roller, spinning count, number of twist, draft ratio etc. are the only variables in the computer computations. Consequently. the computer-process system for carrying out spinning operations in several separate spinning companies producing yarns of the identical type can be carried out by utilizing a common central computer system having the same function as mentioned above. In this case, it is, of course, necessary to provide the central computerprocess system with functions of interruption, memory protection, address relocation, etc. In the case of applying the central computer-process system to a company having a plurality of spinning mills, the above-mentioned functions should be considered to apply.

BRIEF ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a spinning mill wherein the computer process-control system of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 2A are flow charts of the computer process-control system applied to the spinning mill shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an interconnecting circuit connecting a control computer and component spinning processes according to the present invention,

FIGS. 4 and 5 are block diagrams showing principle of delivery-speed control in a spinning process according to the present invention,

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram to illustrate a control system for carrying out a reserve program of semiproduction product according to the present invention,

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a transporting system of sliver cans between the drawing process and the openend spinning process according to the present invention,

FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C are explanatory diagrams for illustration of the control system which can be applied to the transportation of sliver cans by means of the transporting system shown in FIG. 7, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION For the convenience of better understanding the computer process-control system according to the present invention, an automatic spinning process, comprising a continuous openingcarding drawing process, an additional drawing frame, and open-end spinning frames, utilizing the computer process-control system, is hereinafter illustrated.

In the spinning mill shown in FIG. 1, 30 open-end spinning frames, each frame having 200 spindles, are installed, and cotton yarn, mainly and 16 are produced. As it can be understood from FIG. 1, the opening process 1 comprises three separate single process opening machines 1A, 1B, and 1C, and these opening machines are connected to a carding process 3 comprising three groups of carding machines 31A, 31B and 31C by way of the respective reserve boxes 3A, 3B and 3C. The cotton tufts are conveyed from the opening process to the above-mentioned carding process by means of a so-called pneumatic conveying system. Each opening machine 1A, 1B or 1C can be selectively connected to one of the groups of carding machines 31A, 31B, 31C. The above-mentioned selective connection is done by means of a distributor 2 which is installed in the pipe lines between the opening process and the carding process. The pipe lines between each opening machine and each reserve box are combined by the pipe lines in the distributor 2 so as to be selectively connected by means of operating the offset mechanisms 2A, 2B and 2C. For example, the opening machine 1A can be connected to the reserve box 3A by way of the offset mechanism 2A, and can be connected to the reserve box 38 by way of the offset machanisms 2A and 2B, and can be connected to the reserve box 3C by way of the offset mechanisms 2A, 2B and 2C. Consequently. by the selective action of these offset mechanisms 2A, 2B and 2C, the cotton tufts produced by the opening process can be selectively supplied to a particular reserve box. Each group of carding machines comprises 6 carding machines. The cotton tufts fed into each reserve box are supplied to the carding machines by means of the conventional distributor in which a cir culating system is applied. The cotton tufts are conveyed in the distributor toward a direction shown by an arrow. The card slivers delivered from the carding machine and disposed upon a conveyor belt which is installed beside each group of carding machines 31A, 31B, 31C so that 6 card slivers are doubled and these doubled slivers are fed to a first drawing frame 4A or 4B or 4C, continuously. This first drawing frame forms the first drawing process 4. Therefore, the first drawing process comprises three separate drawing frames 4A, 4B and 4C. In the first drawing process 4, the drawing slivers produced by the respective drawing frames 4A, 4B and 4C are packaged in cans. These full packaged sliver cans are supplied to the respective second drawing frames 5A, 5B and 5C, of the second drawing process 5. Drawing slivers produced by the second drawing process 5 are packaged in cans. These full packaged cans are transferred to a transporting means 6. The transporting means 6 comprises full packaged cans and reserve stations 6A, 6B and 6C which connect to respective automatic cans doffing devices mounted on the respective second drawing frames 5A, SB and SC, and an empty-cans-reserve station 6E which connects to the above-mentioned doffing devices, a full-packaged-cans conveyer 62, which connects the full-packaged-cans reserve stations 6A, 6B, 6C to a first cansconveyer 63 disposed along a gear-end frame of each open-end spinning frame 7, and an empty-cans conveyer 64 which is connected to the empty-cans reserve station 6E and disposed along an out-end frame of each openend spinning frame 7, and a plurality of branch conveyers 65 which connect the first conveyer 63 and the second conveyer 64 and are disposed to an inter vened space between adjacent spinning frames 7 and a branch conveyer 66 which connects the first conveyer 63 and the second conveyer 64 and is installed at an end of the spinning room. A conveyer 67 for carrying full packaged products such as full packaged cheese from the spinning frames 7 and a conveyer 68 for carrying bare bobbins to the spinning frames 7 and also a plurality of connecting conveyers 69 which connect the above-mentioned conveyers 67, 68 are installed as shown in FIG. I.

The above-mentioned equipments are shown in detail in Table I.

Table l-continued Number of Basic data such as 8 The other fundamental data of the spinning process, working efficiency of machines, standard waste percentage etc. are stored in the control computer.

Designation equipment No. of deliveries I procm in g i or machine or spindies cm In the above-mentioned embodiment, when a desired Spinning Each spinning flame productions schedule, for example, monthly producfmng 7 30 200 Spindles tions of 16 20 and 30* yarn are decided, an optimum s r 6 schedule for operating the spinning process is comg rj 32A 2C) puted by means of the control computer. The abovetributor mentioned simulation is carried out separately for malting the optimum schedule to produce the desired monthly production of each kind of yarn. The optimum The fundamental data of the above-mentioned maschedule may include count changing program. The chines are shown in Tables 2 and 3. abovementioned optimum schedule is hereinafter re- Table 2 ferred to as an initial product on program or initial production schedule. After making the initial production Count of yarn Opemiw cundmon 208 program, the spinning operation IS carried outso as to coincide the actual production data with the initial pro- Rotation speed of the spinning rotor of the ope 30000 30000 30,000 duction program. The outline of the automatic control end spinning frame rpm system by the control computer according to the presg 'lz f 2O ent invention is hereinafter illustrated with reference to um El 0 WIS O ill'fl um/inch y 2L6 2M5 the flow chart shown in FIGS. 2 and 2A. Standard thickness of feed- 300 300 300 FIG. 2A shows the operation of the computer in FIG. sliver, grains/6 yds Standard weight of yam 62.5 500 '3 2 in detail. The operation of the reference numbers 20, grains/I yds 21 and 22 in FIG. 2 is accomplished by a small scale Take-up speed. m/min 35.3 3L6 25.8 25 Production/l drum lbs/hr 0.1723 01232 0.0671 control compuler for instance TOSIFAC whlch production/1 frame lbs/hr 34.46 2464 342 has 64KB of main memory. The operation of the referg g i fi ig f 3 22;? ence number 19 in FIG. 2 is accomplished by a large l'Q \JCIIOII rame S ay weight of run packaged 3 3 3 scale central computer, for instance. IBM360 -40 or cheese lbs equivalence. gg 'rlzi gififi z fl lbs 9 g 9 30 The process indicated by reference numbers Time for exhausting a r n 52,23 3 134,12 101-123 in FIG. 2A relates to the process indicated by Packagfli reference number 20 in FIG. 2, and the process 126-130 in FIG. 2A, to the process 21-23 in FIG. 2. Each recess in FIG. 2A is shown in the followin Table 3 Drawing Drawing frame frame Carding Item (Second) (First) machine Delivery speed of front roller m/min 320 400 633 Standard weight of supply sliver 475 X 5 500 X 6 grain/6 yds Standard weight of sliver produced 300 475 500 grain/6 yds Production lbs/hr 299.6 296.9 49.4l Number of machine (delivery) 3 (6) 3 [8 Total production lbs/hr 899.7 890.6 889.4 Production ratio to a spinning frame 7: (on the basis 20) I22 I20 120 Weight of full packaged cans lbs/can 9 Draft ratio 7.92 6.32

table 4.

Table 4 l0l; detecting pulse signal corresponding to the amount of product by an open-end spinning frame. said signal is obtained from open-end spinning process 7 in FIG. 2. The amount of said pulses shows that there is no empty silver. I02; indicating the manual cans exchange operation including the stop of operation of the open-end spinning frame and the lamp indication of the exchange of full and fresh cans for the open-end spinning frame. I03; asking if there is any column with full cans. I04; deciding the priority of columns when there are a plurality of columns with no full cans, supplying a train for the column of the first priority, starting an empty conveyer, opening output gate between frames. opening input gate of an empty cans pool. starting a full conveyer, opening an output gate of a full cans pool and opening input gate between frames. I05; detecting the signal showing the start of the empty cans, said signal corresponds to the signal of cans reserve, cans transportation 6 in FIG. 2. I06; processing the job at the output gate of conveyer between frames, closing the output gate of the conveyer Table 4-continued lll'.

and opening the input gate of the conveyer.

detecting the signal showing the entrance of full cans train into the input gate of the conveyor, said signal corresponds to the signal of cans reserve. cans transportation 6 of FIG. 2. processing the job at the input gate of the conveyer between frames. stopping the full convcyer and closing the input gate of the conveyor.

detecting the signal showing the empty cans train at the input gate of an empty cans pool. said signal also corresponds to the signal of cans reserve. cans transportation 6 in FIG. 2.

processing the job at the input gate of the empty cans pool.

detecting the signal showing the start of a full cans trains from the output gate of the full cans pool, said signal also corresponds to the signal of cans reserve cans transportation 6 in FIG. 2. processing the job at the output gate of the full cans pool. closing the output gate of the full cans pool. starting the second drawing frame and opening the input gate of the full cans pool.

detecting the signal showing the completion of exchange of full and empty cans. Said signal corresponds to the signal from the open-end spinning frame 7 in FIG. 2; and appears from manual operation switch when the exchange operation finishes. processing the job concerning the completion of the exchange of cans. including the control of the indication lamp and starting the open-end spinning frame:

detecting the signal showing the completion of the start of empty cans from the output gate of the empty cans pool processing the job at the output gate of empty cans pool. closing the output gate of empty cans pool. opening the output gate of empty cans pool. stopping the second drawing frame. reducing the speed of the first drawing frame. starting the empty conveyer. opening the output gate of the conveyor between frames. and opening the input gate of the empty cans pool.

detecting the signal showing the completion of supply of full cans to the input gate of the full cans pool. This signal also corresponds to cans reserve, cans transportation 6 in FlG. 2.

processing the job at the input gate of the full cans pool. and opening the input gate of the full cans pool.

detecting the pulse signal which appears relating to the amount of product by the second drawing frame. Said signal corresponds to second drawing process 5 in FIG. 2.

processing the job concerning the second drawing frame including the start of the first drawing frame. the stop of the second drawing frame and the ON control of the lamp on an automatic cans mover. detecting the signal of completion of silver piecing of an automatic cans mover. Said signal corresponds to first drawing process 4 in FIG. 2 and is obtained by manual operation when the exchange of full and empty cans finishes.

processing the job concerning the exchange of cans of an automatic cans mover. including OFF control of the lamp indicating the exchange of full and empty cans of an automatic cans mover, reduction of the speed of the first drawing frame, and the start of the second drawing frame.

detecting the pulse signal showing the amount of product by the first drawing frame. Said signal corresponds to first drawing process 4 in FIG. 2. processing the transfer gate of the first drawing frame. including ON control of the lamp indicating the exchange of full and empty cans on an automatic cans mover and the speed control of the first drawing frame. checking if the timer is in the ON condition. said timer turns to the ON condition once a week. comparing the actual amount of product by open-end spinning frame with the scheduled one.

checking if the result of above I26 is within the allowable range.

continuing the production with the same condtion. calculating the revised speed of each machine based on the result of above 126 (corresponding to simulation 22 in H6. 2)

indicating the revised value to each machine.

1. Automatic control of accumulative production of two successive processes by the control computer. in the flow chart of FIG. 2, the optimum schedule for producing the desired monthly production 15 of each yarn count is computed in accordance with the data which is transferred by the data communication system 14. The above-mentioned simulation 19 is done by the control computer 18 so that the initial production programs in 11 connection with yarn counts and changing yarn counts are settled and stored. This is referred to as the initial production program storage 20. In the above-mentioned simulation, delivery speed of the semiproduction product or spinning speed of the machines is governed by fundamental data stored in the control computer 18.

To clarify the above-mentioned simulation, the following example is presented.

EXAMPLE When the monthly yarn production schedule is decided, the initial production program is made accord ing to the below enumerated steps. This automatic planning by the computer is hereinafter referred to as initial simulation. Before explaining initial simulation, it is essential to fix basic conditions for the simulation as follows.

1. Each spinning frame is used for producing one type of yarn during the monthly production schedule.

2. One spinning frame is reserved for periodic maintenanee, in other words, twenty nine spinning frames are used for carrying out the monthly yarn production schedule.

3. The open-end spinning frames are operated for 24 hours/day.

4. The machines from the single process opening machine to the second drawing frame are operated for 16 hours/day by a two-shift working system.

5. The spinning operation is carried out for 26 days/ month.

Assuming the monthly yarn production schedule de cided by the administration department is as follows:

I. Desired amount of production l6" 80,000 lbs 20* 120,000 lbs 30- at least 140,000 lbs 2. Raw cotton for producing the above-mentioned yarns a. 16 a particular blend of several grades of raw cotton; b. 20 and 30 a common blend of several grades of raw cotton. lfthe above monthly yarn production schedule is decided upon, the initial simulation is carried out stepwisely by the computer as follows.

I. Computation of required number of opn-end spinning frames for producing the yarns of [6 and is carried out according to the following equation.

N (Monthly production)/(Production capacity of spinning frame per day) where,

N represents Total number of spinning frames required for producing the given amount of monthly production in number of frames for 26 days.

Consequently, if, N N represents N related to the yarn I6 yarn 20 respectively,

N 80,000 lbs/827 (lbs) 96.8 (framesday) N 120,000 lbs/591 (lbs) 203.04 (framesday) 2. Computation of the required number (n) of openend spinning frames required every day for producing 12 the yarns of I6" and 20 is carried out according to the following equation.

n N/(working days in month) Consequently, if n. represents n related to the yarn 16 yarn 20 respectively,

n" 96.8/26 3 (remainder) 18.8 n 203.04/26 7 (remainder) 21.04

According to our experience of mill operation, if the remainder in the above-mentioned calculation is larger than monthly working days/2, that is, l3 in this example, we understand that it is economical to occupy one spinning frame for one month (26 working days). Consequently, the comparison between the above-mentioned remainder with monthly working days/2 is carried out by the computer, and the following answers are obtained. in the case of yarn 16 the remainder (l8.8) is iarger than monthly working days/2, and therefore, one spinning frame should be occupied for all the monthly working days. In case of yarn 20 the same result as the yarn I6 is obtained. Consequently, the corrected number n of n with respect to the yarn 16 and yarn 20 are computed as follows.

Consequently, the driving speed of the open-end spinning frames for producing the yarns 16*" and 20 can be lowered. That is, in case of the yarn I6 the driving speed is lowered about 7 percent of the standard driving speed, because of the computation ac cording to the following equation.

(Percentage of speed down of the spinning frame) [I Nl6/(Occupied number of spinning frames X 26)]X (I 96.8/4 X 26) X 100 6.93 z 7 In the case of yarn 20 the driving speed is lowered about 2 percent by the same calculation as in the case of yarn 16 3) Computation of allowable number (ri of openend spinning frames every day for producing the yarn 30 is carried out according to the following equation. n 2 (Operable number of open-end spinning frameslday) 4. Computation of monthly production of the yarn 30 is computed according to the following equation.

S (Daily production capacity of spinning frame/- frame) X n X 26 322 lbs X17 X 26 l42,324 lbs 5. Comparison of desired amount of production of yarn 30 with S is carried out. In this comparison, any one of the following three results is disclosed.

a. S is larger than the desired amount of production of yarn 30 b. The difference between S and the desired amount of production of yarn 30 is negligibly small.

13 c. S is smaller than the desired amount of production of yarn 30 In the above-mentioned two cases (a) and (b), the desired amount of production decided upon by the administration department of the company can be satisfied. However, in the case of (c), the following procedure is tried.

The above-mentioned calculations of N, n and S are repeated with particular conditions where the openend spinning frame is operated at a higher driving speed which is within an allowable upper limit. And if the above-mentioned comparison identified by (5) discloses the conditions identified by (a) of (b), the result obtained by the repeated computation is accepted. However, if the above-mentioned comparison discloses the condition identified by (c), the computer issues a particular signal for requesting reconsideration of the administration department.

In this example, the comparison (5) falls in the condition (a). Consequently, the spinning operation can be carried out in standard condition as shown in Tables 2 and 3.

6. Required number of the second drawing frames (M) is calculated according to the following steps.

a. Required amount (P) of sliver produced by the second drawing frame/day is calculated according to the following equation.

P (Desired amount of yarn production/Monthly working days) X (l loss) Where the loss is assumed to as 0.007.

P (80,000/26) X 1.007 3,098.5 lbs P (120,000/26) X 1.007 4,647.7 lbs P (142,324/26) X 1.007 5,512.3 lbs b. As the production capacity of the second drawing frame in 16 hours operation is calculated as (Production capacity of the second drawing frame/hr) if the sliver for the yarn 16 is produced by occupying one drawing frame, the working efficiency (E) of this drawing frame can be calculated according to the following equation,

E P /(Daily production capacity of the second drawing frame) 3,098.5l4,793,6 0.646

Now, assuming it is previously fixed that if E is less than 0.70, this drawing frame is used for producing the sliver for other yarns in the remainder time. That is, [6 hr X 0.3 5 hr, and the computer finds a possibility to occupy the drawing frame for the yarn I6 to produce the sliver for producing other types of yarns. This is one of the characteristic features of the simulation according to the present invention.

c. As the same type of sliver is allowed to be used for producing yarns 20 and 30 the number of drawing frames which can be commonly occupied for producing the yarns 20 and 30 is calculated according to the following equation.

(Total number of drawing frames) (Occupied number of drawing frame for the yarn I6) 3 0.7 2.3

The daily production capacity of the second drawing frame is 4,793.6 lbs. Consequently, E (P F g/4,793.6 X 2.3

= l0,l60/ll,025.28

According to the above calculation, the daily capacity of two drawing frames is larger than that of the required daily amount of sliver required for producing the yarns 20 and 30 d. Consequently, the following schedule for occupation of the drawing frames is decided, No. 1 drawing frame is operated for eleven hours 16 hr X 0.7) to produce sliver for yarn I6 and, after I l hours operation, the material is changed from that of I6 to 20 and 30, so as to produce sliver for yarn 20 and 30 Then this drawing frame is operated for about 5 hours until the required number of full packaged sliver is produced, while other two drawing frames are continuously operated for producing sliver for the yarns 20 and 30 e. According to the above-mentioned changing program in connection with the second drawing frame, the spinning process from the opening machine to the first drawing frame has to be changed. As the time required to pass the spinning material from the distributor or offset device identified by 2A, 2B, 2C in FIG. 1 to the delivery of the first drawing frame can be considered as constant T hours, the change of the offset device must be carried out not later than T hours before changing the type of sliver in the second drawing frame. Further, to prevent trouble due to mixing two different spinning materials, it is preferable to operate the cards, and the first drawing frame without treating fibers, that is, in an empty condition, for about 30 minutes. Fortunately in this example, the required time for producing sliver for the yarn I6 is 16 hr X 0.646 10.24 hr 15 min.

Consequently, the above-mentioned operation of the card, drawing process in free condition can be carried out for (ll hr l0 hr 15 min) =45 min.

7. Required number of opening machine 0 is calculated according to the following equation.

0 P /(Daily production capacity of an opening machine) 3,098.5 lbs/7,000 lbs 0.44 020" (P P d/(Daily production capacity of an opening machine) (4.6477 5,512.3 lbs)/7,000

Consequently, one opening machine can be occupied for producing the yarn I6 while two opening machines can be occupied for producing the yarns 20 and 30 8. Cans transporting system Total number of cans (c)/day for carrying out the spinning operation is calculated according to the following equation.

C Pia/(Quantity of full packaged can) 3,098.5 lbs/9 lbs 344.2 345 cans C Pan/(Quantity of full packaged can) 4,647.7 lbs/9 lbs 516.4 517 cans C P n/(Quantity of full packaged can) 5,512.3 lbs/9 lbs 612.5 613 cans Consequently, daily total number of cans is c= c,,+ C,,+ C,.,= 345 517 +613 1,475

As hereinbefore illustrated, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is provided with a can reserve position having a capacity for reserving 2,200 cans.

Consequently. the production schedule according to the above-mentioned calculations by the computer can be accepted for carrying out the automatic transporta' tion of the full packaged cans to the spinning frame which is hereinafter illustrated in detail in pages 20, 21 and 22.

9. According to the above-mentioned calculations by the computer. the following initial spinning program is obtained as shown in Table 5.

Table 5 Process Opening ll) One opening machine (No. l is continuously process occupied for the yarn [6. Two opening machines (No 2. 3) are contlnuously occupied for the yarns 20- and 30-". t2) Operative condition With respect to the yarn 16. the opening machine (No. 1] is operated for carrying out the operation of the second drawing frame (No. l) for l 1 hours. With respect to the yarns 20 and 30". the opening machines (No. 2 3] are operated for carrying out operation of the second drawing frames (No. 2. No. 3) for It: hours. and the second drawing frames (No. l) for 5 hours.

Distrib- The offset mechanism (No. l) is actuated so as to utor or change the supply connection from the opening offset machine to the card at the time defined by the mech above-mentioned change of supply source in connecanisrn tion with the second drawing frame (No. l). The

time of this changing is set T hours before the time of completion of producing the first drawing slivers for the yarn l6". yarns 20 and 30. Carding (l With respect to the yarn l6, the carding process process (No. I l and the first drawing process and the (No. I) are operated for ll hours for producing first the first drawing sliver for the yarn l6. and drawing then changed to operate for 5 hours for producing process the first drawing sliver for the yarns 20- and 30 (2) With respect to the yarns 20 and 30 the carding processes (No. 2, No. 3) and the first drawing processes (No. 2. No. 3) are operated for l6 hours. (3) Changing of the carding process (No. l) and and first drawing process (No. l) is automatically carried out by the actuation of the offset mechanism. According to the actuation of the offset mechanism. auxiliary mechanisms such as counter are automatically changed so as to conform with the type of sliver. Second (I) With respect to the yarn l6, the second drawing drawing process is operated for H hours for process producing sliver for the yarn 16 After completion of this schedule, the process is changed to produce sliver for the yarns 20-, 30 However. before this changing, to prevent mixing the first drawing sliver with the second drawing sliver. the supplied cans should be changed completely. This drawing process (No. l is operated for 5 hours to produce sliver for the yarns 20 and 30". The time of the above-mentioned changing can be arbitrarily fixed. for example at l0 p.m.. every day. (2) With respect to the yarns 20 30 the second drawing processes (No. 2 and No. 3) are operated for 16 hours/day. Openend (l With respect to the yarn I6 4 open-end spinning spinning frames are continuously occupied for process producing the yarn at 7% lowered driving speed.

(2] With respect to the yarn 20. 8 open-end spinning frames are continuously occupied for producing the yarn at 2% lowered driving speed. (3) With respect to the yarn 30 17 open-end spinning frames are continuously occupied for producing the yarn at standard driving speed.

Transpor- The transportation of the full packaged or empty tation of cans are carried out according to the predeterthc full mined schedule as illustrated in the specificaor empty tion.

cans

Auxiliary Auxiliary operations such as doffing etc. are operations carried out according to the predetermined such as schedules as illustrated in the specification. doffing tial program, eg when machine troubles suddently occur a computed forecast production is compared with the initial program, and ifa non-allowable result is computed, the spinning condition is regulated in accordance with command output signals from the computer 18. And if the above-mentioned non'allowable result is distinguished wherein it is computed that the abovementioned regulation of the spinning condition is insuf ficient to operate the processes in the allowable condition, a revision of initial program is made so that the spinning condition is changed until the actual production data reaches the allowable range of the initial production program. This computation is hereinafter referred to as second simulation designated as 22 in FIG. 2. The above-mentioned revised production program is stored and this storage is designated as 23. As mentioned above, the actual production data is always or periodically compared with the initial production program (and/or revised production program). This operation is hereinafter referred to as computation for comparison." Reference numeral 21 in FIG. 2 represents computation for comparison."

In the above-mentioned automatic control system by the control computer, the operation is fundamentally carried out on a basis of accumulative production in the open-end spinning frames. In the actual operation, periodical comparison is preferably carried out with respect to the accumulative production of yarn. And when the above-mentioned revision of initial program is required according to the computation, the revised production program involves revision of driving speed of whole spinning frames or of several spinning frames. And, it can be preferably arranged that the change of driving speed of any spinning frame is changed according to a predetermined changing program. This program consists of a stepwise speed change program wherein each step corresponds to new data of the com putation. In this case the above-mentioned second simulation can be omitted. It is also practical to carry out short term production control. for example the production control of a day unit is carried out by the abovementioned stepwise speed change program while the production control of a weekly or monthly unit is carried out by the first mentioned system including the second simulation.

In addition to the production control in the process of open-end spinning frames, production controls are carried out in the second drawing process 5, the first drawing process 4, the carding process 3 and the opening process 1 in the upstream orders, by utilizing the control computer 18. As already set forth in the introductory part of this specification, it is required to maintain the balanced condition between the production of the upstream process and the consumption of the downstream process for carrying out whole spinning processes in a stable condition. Consequently, once the production program of the last spinning process has been revised, it is necessary to revise the upstream processes to maintain the abovementioned balanced condition. This is so, particularly in the case of two successive processes wherein these processes are connected by the so-called batch system. For example, for combinations of the first drawing process and second drawing process, the second drawing process and the last spinning process by the open-end spinning frames, if the driving speed of the machine in the upstream process is only regulated in accordance with the rate of regulation in the downstream process, as there is a reserve limitation of semiproduction product between these two processes, it is possible to revise the initial program of each upstream processes by the second simulation so as to maintain the above-mentioned balanced condition. However, to simplify the control processing by the control computer, it is preferable to install upstream equipments having sufficient production capacity to com pensate for the trouble in the downstream processes. For example, as shown in Table 3, the upstream equipments have about 20 percent excess production capacities over the production capacity of the last spinning process, so that the above-mentioned second simulation can be omitted, and the above-mentioned balanced condition between two successive processes can be maintained by changing the driving speed of each machine in accordance with the output of the control computer. However, if the driving speeds of the upstream equipments are regulated when the driving speeds of the open-end spinning frames are changed, the above-mentioned balanced condition between two successive processes is temporarily broken because there is a certain time lag due to producing packaged semiproduction products such as full packaged sliver cans. Therefore, it is essential to stop the operation of a certain upstream-process when the reserved packages of semiproduction product exceed a predetermined limit. On the other hand, particularly in the case of changing the production rate greatly, it is better to carry out the second simulation in connection with the reserve program of the full packages of semiproduction products so as to prevent the unbalanced condition between the production of the upstream process and the consumption of the downstream process. The abovementioned second simulation is computed from the data of the initial reserve program, actual data of re served packages, forecast data of reserves based upon forecast production of the upstream process and forecast consumption of the downstream process.

II. Changing the supply route of intermediate products When it is impossible to produce the desired amount of the product, in other words, such impossibility is es timated by the computer, it is necessary to change the initial production program. One such revision of the program is carried out by changing the supply route of the intermediate products to the downstream process, in accordance with the demand. In this case, a new simulation to find the optimum spinning program is carried out with reference to the instantaneous data showing the spinning condition of each process, data of reserved number of intermediate products, time lag which is required to complete the processing etc., additional to the stored machine words. In connection with the above-mentioned change of supply route, several man ual operations, such as, draft change, changing the identification of packages etc. are carried out. These manual operations are indicated as MO in FIG. 2.

III. Computer control system applied to the auxiliary works in the spinning process A. Transportation of cans and cheese in connection with reservation of the intermediate products As the initial production program is precisely set by the control computer, if no troubles with machines or other production parameters, etc. are encountered by the production control system, the flow of the spinning material or intermediate products in the automatic spinning process as shown in FIG. 1 is very stable in the 19 balanced condition between the production of the up stream process and the consumption in the downstream process. However, if the supply of the intermediate products to the downstream process, the transportation of containers for intermediate products between the upstream and downstream processes are subject to troubles such as exhaustion of reserved intermediate products, interference of containers during the transportation etc., even though the above-mentioned balance between the production of the upstream process and consumption in the downstream process can be maintained, the spinning processes can not operate in a continuous and steady condition. The abovcmentioned problem is hereinafter discussed in detail. The typical case of the abovementioned problem is the reservation of full packaged sliver cans of the second drawing process and their transportation to the cans exchanging positions before the open-end spinning frames. Generally speaking. if sufficiently large space for reserving the full packaged sliver cans can be found between the drawing frames and the open-end spinning frames, there is no problem to be discussed. However, there is a certain limitation of reservation space. From our experience, it is required to reserve full packaged sliver cans of one-half to one-third of the total number of spindles or drums of the open-end spinning process for carrying out continuous and steady operation. According to the simulation, it is found that it is sufficient to reserve one-third of the total number of spindles or drums for carrying out the spinning operation at very high working efficiency. One reason why the number of reserved cans can be reduced is due to the fact that the above-mentioned conveyer transportation itself offers a space which can be utilized for reservation. That is, in the reserving and transportation program of the full packaged sliver cans according to the present inven tion, the full packaged sliver cans are reserved in accordance with the predetermined schedule under the balanced condition between the production in the second drawing process and the consumption in the open-end spinning process, and transferred to the open-end spinning room by a series of conveyers in accordance with the transferring program. As already mentioned, 2000 full packaged sliver cans, or 2.200 cans are sufficient to carry out the operation continuously. These cans are reserved in reserve stations 6A, 6B and 6C in 31 rows of can exchanging positions before the open-end spinning frames 7, and the empty cans can be stored in the empty cans reserve station. In the present embodiment, as the number of spindles of an open-end spinning frame 7 is 200 drums, 50 to I cans are exchanged at one time. Consequently, if 50 cans are reserved at the cans-exchanging station before the open-end spinning frame as a group, 50 X 30 (rows) 1,500 cans can be reserved at whole cans-exchanging stations. Therefore, 2,000 L500 500 cans must be reserved in the can reserve stations 6A, 6B, 6C and 6E. If, the capacity of the full packaged cans of the second drawing process is several times the full packaged quantity of the cheese produced in the open-end spinning process, the programing of the cans transportation can be simplified. For example, in the case where the full package weight of the above-mentioned cheese is 3 lbs while the capacity of the full packaged sliver cans of the second drawing process 5 is 9 lbs, the sliver cans positioned before the open-end spinning frame are exhausted at every three doffing operations, consequently, a very systematic program for carrying out the doffing operation,

yarn piecing operation in connection with the doffing operation, supply of the full packaged sliver cans, discharging the empty cans from the spinning frames can be made by the control computer. In the above-mentioned transportation. the most effective function of the computer control system according to the present invention is the computer control for preventing mutual interference of cans trains during the transportation. As there is a limitation to the installation of the number of conveyers in the open-end spinning room, if the order of supply to the spinning frames is not controlled, it is impossible to avoid interference between one cans train and another train during the transportation. Therefore, in the computer control system according to the present invention, the supply order of the full packaged cans is computed in accordance with the output pulse signal from the open-end spinning frame which indicates the demand for supply so as to prevent the abovementioned interference. The abovementioned function of the computer control system will be hereinafter illustrated in detail.

As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 2, a pulse signal which represents the actual production rate is an input to the control computer, and the accumulative production is computed. And the above-mentioned accumulative production is compared with the program. If the computer detects that the calculated data is within the allowable range, the production is continued in the same spinning condition, but, if the computer detects that the calculated data falls outside of the allowable range, the driving speed of the second drawing frame is adjusted as already illustratedv The detailed examples of adjusting the driving speed of the machine will be hereinafter illustrated. In the drawing process 4, 5, the number of full packaged sliver cans is computed by the control computer 18 in accordance with the abovementioned pulse signal fed into the computer 18. Or, a pulse generator for generating a pulse at each time of a cans-exchanging operation can be preferably applied to the drawing frames. In this case, the above-mentioned computation by the control computer can be omitted.

Each spinning frame is provided with a pulse generator for indicating the timing of doffing. Therefore, when the indication signal is fed to the control computer, the order of the automatic doffing operation in connection with the spinning frames is computed so as to avoid the interference of doffing operation between the spinning frames. This interference can be prevented by the same manner as that for preventing the interference of cans-trains during transportation which will be illustrated the last portion of this specification. With respect to the cheese conveyer, the full packaged cheese can be conveyed by a conventional conveyer, therefore the control computer 18 is only used for calculating the total number of products in connection with each spinning count or varieties of products, and the sum up data can be fed to the central computer system by means of on-line communication system.

B. Cans-exchange operation In cansexchange operation of the drawing frame, since both the first and second drawing frames adopt a socalled self-control type automatic means, in which an exchange apparatus is operated through pulse signals generated by a counting or recording means for recording production (eg. the above-mentioned pulse generator) which cooperate with a pair of callender roilers of delivery rollers, the cans-exchange operation of the drawing frame does not need to be controlled by 

1. An automatic process control system for carrying out a spinning operation comprising: a. a plurality of opening machines (1A, 1B, 1C) for manufacturing cotton tufts; b. a plurality of carding machines (31A, 31B, 31C) for manufacturing card slivers from said cotton tufts, each of which is selectively connected to one of said opening machines (1A, 1B, 1C) through a distributor (2) and reserve boxEs (3A, 3B, 3C); c. a plurality of first drawing frames (4A, 4B, 4C) connected to said carding machines (31A, 31B, 31C) through a conveyer belt, for manufacturing the first drawing slivers packaged in cans from said card slivers; d. a plurality of second drawing frames (5A, 5B, 5C) for manufacturing second drawing slivers packaged in cans, from said first drawing slivers in cans; e. a plurality of open-end spinning frames (7) connected to said second drawing frames through conveyers, and; f. control means for controlling the operational speed of all said machines and frames and driving all said conveyers wherein said control means compares actual accumulative amount of production of each process with desired accumulative amount of production at predetermined time and revises said operational speed according to the result of said comparison.
 2. An automatic process control system for carrying out a spinning operation comprising: a. a plurality of opening machines for manufacturing cotton tufts; b. a plurality of carding machines for manufacturing card slivers from said cotton tufts, each of which is selectively connected to one of said opening machines through a distributor and reserve boxes; c. a plurality of first drawing frames connected to said carding machines through a conveyer belt, for manufacturing the first drawing slivers packaged in cans from said card slivers; a plurality of second drawing frames for manufacturing second drawing slivers packaged in cans, from said first drawing slivers in cans; e. a plurality of open-end spinning frames connected to said second drawing frames through conveyers: f. control means for controlling the operational speed of all said machines and frames and driving all said conveyers wherein said control means compares actual accumulative amount of production of each process with desired accumulative amount of production at predetermined time and revises said operational speed according to the result of said comparison; and g. a variable speed system for actuating said first and second drawing frames having a pair of paired rollers; a variable speed gear connected to said pair of rollers through a gear box; pilot motor means connected to said variable speed gear, said pilot motor means being rotatable through a predetermined angle responsive to a predetermined number of output pulses applied thereto from said control means for adjusting the variable ratio of said variable speed gear; a pulse signal generator connected to said gear box for providing a pulse to said control means for every rotation of said paired rollers. 